(49) Isaiah Joe >>> A+
The Sixers regrettably came up one pick short of Nico Mannion, who went 48th overall to Golden State. Beyond that, there wasn’t anyone worth taking over Joe. So, after a week of panic over the Sixers’ blatantly public intention to select Joe, he delivered immense value late in the second round.
Joe is arguably the best shooter in the draft. For that reason alone, his fall to 49 is a mild surprise. The NBA values shooters now more than ever. The Sixers got lucky, and Joe figures to make the 15-man roster this upcoming season — with the aforementioned Reed taking over Marial Shayok’s vacated two-way slot.
Last season, Joe shot only 34.2 percent from deep, but he did so on a whopping 10.6 attempts per game. As a freshman the year prior, he shot 41.2 percent on 8.0 attempts per game. Even with a shakier performance last season, as well as some lingering concerns about his frailty, there’s no overlook Joe’s prolificness from 3-point range.
Joe also has real moments of promise on defense. He’s a potentially versatile wing at 6-foot-7, with a strong nose for the ball and no shortage of hustle. He needs to bulk up — his frame is worrisome at 180 pounds — but the upside to be both an elite shooter and a passable defender is there.
Other teams dropped the ball. Joe shouldn’t have made it to 49.